George Hayburn

It is with deep gratitude and affection that I remember and celebrate the life and work of George Hayburn, a remarkable all-round musician, an excellent teacher and a truly wonderful human being who touched the lives of so many at the City of London School.

George’s sheer length of service to CLS was legendary: he was appointed in 1975 by the then Director of Music, Tony Gould, to teach cello, spending the next 11 years teaching at the old City of London School on the Victoria Embankment.

Then, in September 1986, came the move to the present school building, which was when I had the honour and the privilege to meet George as one of his keener cello pupils. This was the beginning of a fantastic relationship, first as his pupil for 7 years and, from 2005 until his retirement in 2023, as one of his colleagues in the Music Department.

As a teacher, George was greatly inspiring – helping me to consolidate my cello technique, always with very impressive demonstrations – but what constantly struck me as he demonstrated was the sheer beauty of his tone and the expressive depth and warmth of his phrasing. This, as I gradually discovered, was of course a reflection of his personality: he was truly one of the most giving, sensitive and supportive people I have ever met.

Impressed though I was by his beautiful cello playing, as I progressed through the school I quickly realised that George’s musicianship extended far beyond the cello. During lessons as well as the school’s Evening Recitals, whenever I performed a solo cello piece, George proved himself to be an amazing piano accompanist: a great listener, sensitive and subtle in his playing, providing exactly the right kind of support needed to enable his soloists to feel relaxed and to play their best. An early highlight for me was the beautiful Fauré Élégie (I can still hear him accompanying me in the piece’s passionate climax), and I was most grateful to him for introducing me to the Lubbock Élégie as a later highlight – which I will never forget.

George also afforded me the incredible opportunity to explore many of the greatest sonatas for cello and piano: the Debussy, both Brahms sonatas, the Rachmaninov and the Beethoven A major. He really could play the challenging piano parts of these works, and I fondly remember my last lessons with him in the 6th Form as, quite simply, a celebration and a love of music-making.

Small wonder, then, that some years after I left as a pupil George was asked by Tony Gould’s successor, Mike Smedley, to accompany large numbers of pupils for their exams – his excellent sight-reading skills being particularly useful for this task. Inevitably this led to his teaching piano at the school – more and more as the years went by. By the time he retired, George had been in great demand at the school both as piano teacher and accompanist for a long time, as well as providing invaluable aural training for the boys every week.

Beyond all his rare musical attributes, George was greatly loved by all members of the Music Department, as well as by those other staff members who were fortunate enough to know him over the years, and he was always a most welcome presence in the Music Staff Room. This was hardly surprising, considering how warm, gentle and good-natured he always was. He had a great sense of humour, a love of life’s finer pleasures and he always had enough time to listen to people and offer his support – however stressed he may have been feeling because of the latest computer quirk, or the burden of dealing with the constant increase in administrative workload which has been affecting all teachers in recent years!

Upon his retirement from CLS, George retained his friendships with several members of staff and continued to enjoy going out to dinners and concerts. He leaves behind a legacy that is not only in the music he played so beautifully or the skills he taught so brilliantly, but in the many lives he enriched through his generosity of spirit, his passion for music and his unwavering dedication to his pupils and colleagues. George passed away on 8th May 2026 and he shall be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Remembered by: Costas Fotopoulos (Class of 1993) and Visiting Teacher of Piano

Watch and listen to George accompanying pupil Sasha Collet-White (Class of 2024) performing Élégie (Fauré, Op 24)

I have many fond memories of my time with a truly phenomenal musician and a wonderful man. I can say with absolute certainty had it not been for the opportunities given to me by City Of London School, and the time I spent with Mr Hayburn, I would not be studying Music at university. I am deeply saddened by his passing; he was the epitome of class and kindness. Sasha Colett-White (Class of 2024)